Magnetic catch



NOV. 25, 1958 M- LQEB 2,861,831

MAGNETIC CATCH Filed Jan. 13, 195s JNVENTOR. MOR RIS L OEB www 4/3" ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1958 MAGNETIC CATCH Morris Loeb, New York, N. Y.

Application January 13, 1958, Serial No. 708,703

6 Claims. (Cl. 292-2515) This invention relates to catches in general such as magnetic catches extensively used for kitchen cabinets and the like. The present application constitutes a continuation-in-part of the application filed December 24, 1956, Serial No. 630,318 now Patent No. 2,837,366 dated .Tune 3, 1958.

Among the. objects of the present invention it is aimed to provide an improved magnetic catch, especially adapted for kitchen cabinets and the like, which can be produced ata minimum cost, can be readily and expeditiously assembled, can be readily and expeditiously secured in place, will remain in working operation indefinitely and consequently is free from any upkeep expense and is durable.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved magnetic catch which will automatically position, adjust or accommodate itself to the many imperfections section 2 is provided with a main plate portion 4 parallel to the plane of the enlarged ears and 6 but at a diierent level, the plate portion 4 being dened from the ears S in structures with which these catches are used and durable enough to withstand the abuse and heavy usage to which they are frequently subjected.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an improved magnetic catch of the character described in which the magnetic unit may be operatively secured in place without the use of any independent fastening or securing means but merely by having a recess or depression formed in the magnet of the magnetic unit, projections extending from the inner Ifaces `of the conductive plates positioned to project into the recess or depression of the magnet, depressions formed in the outer faces of the conductive plates and projections formed in the opposing walls of the housing to extend into the depressions of the conductive plates with sufficient clearance to permit movement of the magnetic unit relative to the housing for adjustment.

These and other features, capabilities and advantages of the invention will appear from the subjoined detailed description of specific embodiments thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a fragmental end elevation of a reversible unit in which the extended end is located in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental end elevation of the reversible unit shown in Fig. 1 in which the receding end is located in operative position.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3 showing the means for securing the magnetic unit to the housing.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an exploded View of the unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 5 of another embodiment provided with the same means for securing the magnetic unit to the housing but with the housing open only at one end.

Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the unit shown in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive there is illustrated a housing 1 comprising a baseA section 2 and an upper chamber forming section 3. The base and 6 by the shoulders 7 and 8, respectively. In the ears 5 and 6 there are provided two elongated slots 9 and 10 respectively to facilitate adjustment of the plate portion 4 relative to the edge 11 of the shelf or platform or rst frame member 12 or the like to which the base section 2 is attached by screws 13 or the like.

The plate portion 4 has its front portion 15 extending beyond the front edges of the ears 5 and 6 and the rear end portions of the ears 5 and 6 in turn extending rearwardly beyond the rear edge of the plate portion 4. Furthermore, there are formed clearances or slits 16 at the sides of the plate portion 4 adjacent the shoulders 7 and 8 respectively. The slits 16 in the present instance are disposed intermediate the front and rear ends of the plate portion 4.

The chamber forming section 3 comprises an upper wall or roof 19, two side walls 20 and 21 extending substantially vertical to the wall 19 and projections 22 and 26 extending from the free edges of the side walls 20 and 21 intermediatethe rear and front ends thereof. The

projections 22 and 26 in the present embodiment are provided to enter the slits 16 in the plate portion 4 after which the edges thereof are upset either by riveting .or by a peen to anchor the side walls 20 and 21 to the plate portion 4 extending from the upper or raised face of the plate portion 4. Intermediate the plate portion 4 of the base section and the upper wall 19 of the housing section 3 the magnetic unit is anchored. The magnetic unit of this'embodiment consists of the conductive metal plate portions 23 and 24 and the magnet 25. In the present instance, the conductive plate portions 23 and 24 and the magnet 25 are rectangular in shape, with the magnet 25 being substantially the same width as the conductive plate portions 23 and 24 but slightly shorter in length so that both the front and rear ends of the plate portions 23 and 24 extend beyond the magnet 25 as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In order to anchor the magnetic unit 27 to the housing 1, independent securing means are not provided but instead thereof the conformations of the plate portion 4, upper wall 19, conductive plate portions 23, 24 and magnet 25 are relied upon. As an instance a recess or opening 28 is provided intermediate the magnet 25. Projections 29 and 30 are provided on the inner faces of the conductive plate portions 23 and 24 to enter the recess or opening 28 in the magnet 25. The t between the projections 29, 30 and the recess or opening 28 may be fairly snug. The conductive metal plate portions also are provided with depressions 31 and 32 on their outer faces. In the present instance the plate portion 4 is provided with a downwardly extending annular projection 33 to enter the depression 31 of the conductive metal plate portion 23. In turn, the upper wall portion 19 is provided with a projection 34 to enter the depression 32 in the conductive metal plate portion 24. The conformations of the plate portions 23 and 24 as well as the conformations of the plate portion 4 and upper wall 19 may be provided by stamping or the like. Obviously to conform the projection 34 in the upper wall 19 it may be desirable to form a depression 35 in the outer face of the upper Wall 19.

When the unit so far described is positioned on a shelf 12 or the like as shown in Fig. l with the front ends of the plate portions 23 and 24 extending beyond the edge 11, then the plate portions 23 and 24 will be in position to cooperate with a contact plate 36 secured to the door 37 which may overlap the outer edge 11 of the platform 12 as shown. Y

In some instances, however, it may be desirable to have the door such as the door 33 swing inwardly of the outer edge 39 of the platform 40 as shown in Fig. 2 when it may be desirable to have the rear ends of the conductive plate portions 23 and 24 extend toward the free end 39 of the platform 40. For this reason, the embodiment illustrated in Figs. `1 to 7 inclusive may be considered a reversible unit and therefore have-a'diversied utility.

With the embodiment shown in Figs. l to 7 inclusive preferably the plate portions 23 and 24 are-composed of a conductive material responsive to a magnetic force and the chamber forming section 3 formed of a nonconductive material not responsive to a magnetic force. Although excellent results have been achieved when the base section 2 is composed of a non-conductive material, it has been found that satisfactory results have been achieved if the base section 2 is composedrof a conductive material so long as the chamber forming section 3 is composed of a non-conductive material andthe contact plates 23 and 24 are composed of a conductive material responsive to a magnetic force.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 differs primarily-from the embodiment illustrated in -Figs. l to 7 inclusive in that the chamber forming section 41 is provided with projections 42 and 43 adjacent the front ends of its side walls 44 and 4S respectively `as disclosed in aforementioned Patent No. 2,837,366 ,to enter the recesses 46 and 47 adjacent the front end of the plate portion 48 of the base section 49 and in that the chamber forming section 41 in addition is provided with a rear wall 50 having a recess 51 therein to receive the tongue 52 extending from the rear end of the plate portion 48. When assembled the projections 42 and 43 are bent around the outer face of the plate portion 48 to cooperate with the tongue 52 extending through the opening 51 in the rear wall 50 to anchor the chamber forming section 41 to the base section 49. The magnetic unit 53 including the magnet 54 and conductive plates 55 and 56 responsive to a magnetic force are connected to the upper wall 57 of the chamber forming section 41 and the plate portion 48 by means that are not independent and extraneous just as is the case with the embodiments illustrated in Figs. i to 7 inclusive. In the present ernbodiment, however, the base -plate portion 4S is provided with an integra! projection 58 instead of a chambered annular projection such as the projection 33 of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. l to 7. In the present embodiment the magnet 54 is provided with a central or intermediate opening or recess 59 to receive the projections 60 and 61 of the conductive plates 55 and 56 respectively, which conductive plates 55 and 56 in turn have depressions in their outer faces to receive the projections 62 and 5S in the upper wall 57 and base plate portion 4S respectively, a clearance being provided between the depressions formed in the outer faces of .the conductive plates 55 and 56 and the projections 62 and 58 respectively to yallow for adjustment.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made to the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a magnetic catch for relatively movable frames comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a first frame and containing a magnetic unit for cooperation with a contact plate adapted to be secured to a second frame, said housing characterized by a base adapted to be secured to said first frame and having attachment ears and an outer face, the ears having structure engaging faces engaging said first frame parallel to but offset from the outer face of the base to form a clearance between said ears, a one-piece chamber forming section having an outer wall and two side walls, said side walls having projections extending from their inner free edges, said base having clearances to receive the projections of said side wall, said projections being upset over said base in the clearance between said ears to anchor said base to said side walls, and a magnetic unit anchored to, but movable between said outer wall and said base, said magnetic unit having parallel metal plate portions throughout their width projecting from one of the edges of said outer wall and base for engagement with said contact plate, a magnet disposed between said metal Plate portions with one of its edges spaced inwardly from the projecting edges of said metal plate portions, said magnet having -an intermediate opening, said plate portions having intermediate projections in alinement with said intermediate opening and extending into the same to anchor the plate portions to said magnet, said plate portions having intermediate depressions, said outer wall and base having intermediate projections extending into the depressions in said plate portions to anchor said magnetic unit in place, and the projections of said outer wall and base being smaller in diameter than the depressions in said plate portions in diameter to allow freedom of movement of said magnetic unit for adjustment.

2. The magnetic catch as set forth in claim l in which the vprojections and depressions in said outer wall, base and plate portions are stamped out.

3. In a magnetic catch for relatively movable frames comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a first frame and containing a magnetic unit for cooperation with a contact plate adapted to be secured to a second frame, said housing characterized by a base adapted to be secured to said first frame and having attachment ears and an outer face, the ears having structure engaging faces engaging said first frame parallel to but offset from the outer face of the base to form a clearance between said ears, a one-piece chamber forming section having an outer wall and two side walls, said side walls having projections extending from their inner free edges, said base having clearances to receive the projections of said side wall, said projections being upset over said base in the clearance between said ears to anchor said base to said side walls, and a magnetic unit anchored to, but movable between said outer Wall and said base, said magnetic unit having parallel metal plate portions throughout their width projecting from the front edge and the rear edge of said outer wall and base for engagement of one of said edges with said contact plate, a magnet disposed between said metal plate portions with its edges spaced inwardly from the projecting edges of said metal plate portions, said magnet having an intermediate opening, said plate portions having intermediate projections in alinement with said intermediate opening and extending into the same to anchor the plate portions to said magnet, said plate portions having intermediate depressions, said outer wall and base having intermediate projections extending into the depressions in said plate portions to anchor said magnetic unit in place, and the projections of said outer wall and base being smaller in diameter than the depressions in said plate portions in diameter to allow freedom of movement of said magnetic unit for adjustment.

4. The magnetic catch as set forth in claim 3 in which the projections and depressions in said outer wall, base and plate portions are stamped out.

5. In a magnetic catch for relatively movable frames comprising a metal housing adapted to be secured to a first frame and containing a magnetic unit for cooperation with a metal contact plate responsive to a magnetic force adapted to be secured to a second frame, said housing characterized by a base adapted to be secured to said first frame and having attachment ears and an outer face, the ears having structure engaging faces engaging said first frame parallel to but offset from the outer face of the base to form a clearance between said ears, a one-piece chamber forming section having an outer wall, two side walls and a rear wall, said base having a rear edge, a tongue intermediate said rear edge, said side walls having projections adjacent their front ends, said rear wall having an intermediate slot to receive said tongue and said base having recesses at the outer ends thereof to receive the projections of said side wall, said projections being bent across said base with their outer faces in alinement with the structure engaging faces of said ears and the free edge of said rear wall being in alinement with the structure engaging faces of said ears to enable said ears, free edge of said rear wall and projections, all to engage the structure to which the device is attached, a magnetic unit anchored to, but movable between, said outer wall and said base, said magnetic unit having parallel metal plate portions throughout their width projecting from the front edges of said outer wall and base for engagement with said contact plate, a magnet disposed between said metal plate portions with its front edge spaced inwardly from the front edges of said metal plate portions, said magnet and plate portions being rectangular in shape and movable to and from said side walls and rear wall, and means anchoring said magnetic unit to said base and outer wall, said anchoring means consisting in said magnet having an intermediate opening, said plate portions having intermediate projections in alinement with said intermediate opening, and extending into the same to secure the plate portions to said magnet, said plate portions having intermediate depressions, said outer wall and base having intermediate projections extending into the depressions in said plate portions to anchor said magnetic unit in place, and the projections of said outer Wall and base being smaller in diameter than the depressions in said plate portions in diameter to allow freedom of movement of said magnetic unit for adjustment.

6. In a magnetic catch for relatively movable frames comprising a housing adapted to be secured to a first frame and containing a magnetic unit for cooperation with a contact plate adapted to be secured to a second frame, said housing characterized by a base adapted to be secured to said first frame and having attachment ears and an outer face, the ears having structure engaging faces engaging said first frame parallel to but offset from the outer face of the base to form a clearance between said ears, a one-piece chamber forming section having an outer wall and two side walls, said side walls having projections extending from their inner free edges, said base having clearances intermediate its ends to receive the projections of said side wall, said projections being upset over said base in the clearance between said ears to anchor said base to said side walls, and a magnetic unit anchored to, but movable between said outer wall and said base, said magnetic unit having parallel metal plate portions throughout their width projecting from the front edge and the rear edge of said outer wall and base for engagement of one of said edges with said contact plate, a magnet disposed between said metal plate portions with its front and rear edges spaced inwardly from the projecting edges of said metal plate portions, said magnet having an intermediate opening, said plate portions having intermediate projections in alinement with said intermediate opening and extending into the same to anchor the plate portions to said magnet, said plate portions having intermediate depressions, said outer wall and base having intermediate projections extending into the depressions in said plate portions to anchor said magnetic unit in place, and the projections of said outer wall and base being smaller in diameter than the depressions in said plate portions in diameter to allow freedom of movement of said magnetic unit for adjustment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,240,035 Camerali Apr. 29, 1941 2,701,158 schmitt Feb. 1, 1955 2,837,366 Loeb Junel 3, s 

